Valve seat with pressure movable sealing means for sealing with valve members



Apnl 27, 1954 J. H. BOSTOCK ETAL 2,676,782

4 VALVE SEAT WITH PRESSURE MOVABLE SEALING MEANS FOR SEALING WITH VALVE MEMBERS Filed Nov. 1, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 8 6c g 7 A v I /9 5i ,0

4 ATTORNEKS Filed Nov. i, 1948 H. BOSTOCK ETAL m PRESSURE MOVABLE SEALING EALING WITH VALVE MEMBERS 2 Sh eets-Sheet 2 nrromsrs Patented Apr. 27, 1954 UNITED STATE VALVE SEAT WITH PRESSURE MOVABLE SEALING VALVE MEMBERS MEANS FOR SEALING WITH of Texas Application November 1, 1948, Serial No. 57,766

7 Claims.

The invention hereinafter disclosed relates to improvements in poppet or ball valve seats and has for its general object the provision of a valve having a novel seat and valve member arrangement with a packing element formed of resilient sealing material adapted to provide a seal between the rigid portion of these parts with the valve closed.

In many valves the valve and seat members are small and yet the pressures to be controlled are great as, for example, in pressure relief valves. It is difficult to provide an adequate seal for the closed valve when utilizing only metal-to-metal parts for the seated members and yet they do not lend themselves readily to the usual arrangement of sealing materials for sealing such joints.

An object of this invention is to provide a valve wherein a positive seal is obtained between the valve seat and the valve member.

Another object is to provide a valve wherein the valve seat carries a resilient seal ring intermediate the seating surfaces of the seat providing a continuous surface exposed exteriorly of the seat with means for forcing the seal member against a seated valve member by the controlled pressure.

A further object is to provide a valve seat having a continuous seating surface divided by a continuous opening wherein the seat carries a resilient sealed element having a portion exposed through said opening adapted to be engaged by a valve member when seated and having means communicating with the valve passageway upstream of the seat for conducting the pressure to be controlled to the side of the seal element remote from the Valve member.

Still another object is to provide a valve seat having a continuous seating surface divided by a continuous opening wherein the seat carries a resilient sealed element having a portion exposed through said opening adapted to be engaged by a valve member when seated and having passages which communicate between the seal member and the passageway controlled by the valve in such manner that the pressure within the passages and acting against the seal element is reduced when the valve member is unseated.

A still further object is to provide a seal assembly comprising two cooperating seated parts having a seating surface with an opening therein and containing a resilient seal element adapted to be pressed against the opening by the pressure controlled.

Other and further objects of this invention will appear from the description.

In the accompanying drawings which form a part of the instant specification, are to be read in conjunction therewith and wherein like reference numerals are used to indicate like parts in the various views:

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a valve embodying this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view upon an enlarged scale of the valve member and seat shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2, showing a modified form of seat;

Fig. 4 is a View similar to Fig. 1, showing the application of the invention to a different form of valve; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical section of the valve member and seat shown in Fig. 4.

The invention has been illustrated as applied to ball valves and more particularly to relief valves. This is by way of illustration only and is not by way of limitation. The invention is also applicable to large valves, but its greatest importance is in installations employing small seat and valve parts.

The form of the device shown in Figs. 1 to 3 has a nipple I tapped into the wall 2 of the container of the fluid, such as a pipe or tank., In the end id of the nipple I inserted into the container there is a threaded plug 3 having a bore 4 communicating with the interior of the container. This plug 3, set up in nipple l, bears on an annular member or seat part 5 which bears on an annular member or seat part 6 seated against a resilient gasket l seated on a shoulder 8 of the nipple I. As clearly shown in Fig. 2, the member 5 has a peripheral flange 5a on which is received the abutting face 6a of the member 6. The body 51) of the member 5 projects into the bore of member 6 and has a peripheral flange 50 with which co-acts an inner peripheral flange 61) of the member 5 to form a channel 9 in which is disposed a resilient sealing ring H], which may be fabricated of suitable resilient seal material as, for instance, rubber, synthetic rubber or the like. A spherical valve member II is seated on the concave surfaces 5d and 6c of the members 5 and 6, respectively. Surfaces 5d and 6c are so relatively spaced that ring I0 contacts valve member II therebetween through the continuous opening intermediate seat surfaces 5d and 60. A bore [2 through member 5 communicates with bore 4 of plug 3. A plurality of passages or conduits is through member 5 connect the bore !2 with the channel 9.

It has been found necessary where high pressures are to be controlled for the conduit means E3 to communicate with bore I 2 at a point or points where the pressure which results in these conduits and channel 9, when valve member II is unseated, will be less than the pressur therein when the valve member is seated, to prevent seal ring it from being extruded from between parts and 6. This may be accomplished by having the conduits communicate with bore I2 along a somewhat constricted cylindrical wall passage as shown in Fig. 2. The Venturi eifeot is even greater in the modification of Fig. 3 where bore IZa is formed as a venturi. The opening between the surfaces 5d and 6c is smaller than the crosssectional dimension of the channel 9 and of the member IE! and therefore the member II) will not be extruded through the opening except in the event of relatively great pressure diiferentials thereacross. Of course, the reduction of pressure in back of member It plus the build-up of downstream pressure almost instantaneously lowers the pressure differential across member Iii when the ball leaves its seat.

Valve member I I projects into a bore It in nipple I, of slightly greater diameter than the diameter of member I I. In a slightly enlarged portion Ida of the bore Hi, there is slidably disposed a plunger member I5 for holding valve member II closed against normal pressure within the container 2. The closed or open position of the valve member II effects a control of the escape of pressure fluid from container 2 through a discharge port It in nipple I, which port connects bore I4 to atmosphere. Member I5 has on one end a pin I511 impinging member II and on its other end a pin Ilib passed through an apertured disc I! seated in a socket I8 on the end of nipple I. Threaded into and projecting from the socket I8 there is a cylindrical casing I9 containing a coil spring confined between cups 2| and 22. The cup EI bears on the pin I51) of the plunger member I 5 and the cup 22 is pressed by a hollow screw 23 threaded into head Ida of the casing I9. A lock nut 24 is provided on the screw 23 exterior of head Isa for maintaining adjustment of screw 23 after the screw has been adjusted by means of a non-circular head 25 thereon to determine the loading of spring 20. The screw 23 has a bore 23d axially thereof in the upper end of which there is threaded a rod 26 with a threaded head Z'I for receiving a hand wheel or the like. Rod 25 passes through bore 23a of bolt 2;! and a bore 22a of cup 22 and into a socket Zia of cup 2i, and serves as a means of locking valve member II in closed position when desired. Suitable detent means for plunger member I5 consists of a pin 28 fixed in a rotatable shaft 2e so as to be rotatable therewith in the nipple I. Pin 28 is engaged by tapered surface I50 when the element I5 moves toward open position and rotates shaft 29 moving its nose 29a in beneath the shoulder I501 to retain the element in open position and prevent the spring 29 from acting upon the valve member to close it. Manipulation of shaft 28 will disengage the detent from the plunger element I5 and permit the spring 28 to move valve member I I to closed position whenever desired.

In the form of the device shown in Fig. 3, the bore lZa through the member 5 has a constriction I22) in which is a peripheral cylindrical surface I20 through which the conduits I3 communicate with bore I2a for the reason hereinbefore mentioned, of providing a Venturi effect to reduce the pressure within conduits It and channel 5 when the valve member I I is unseated.

The device shown in Figs. 4 and 5 has a nipple IIlI tapped into the wall I02 of the container of fluid. In the end mm of the nipple IIlI inserted into the container, there is threaded a plug I83 providing an annular peripheral channel Iil i tween the plug and nipple, the channel communieating with the interior of the container. This plug I83, set up in nipple Iii I bears on an annular member I which bears on an annular member Hi5 seated against a resilient gasket It? in turn seated on a shoulder I98 of the nipple iiiI. As clearly shown in Fig. 5, the member its has a peripheral flange I054! on which is received the abutting face Iiiiia of the member its. body I961) of the member IIIE projects into the men ber I05 and has a peripheral flange Iiidc with which co-acts an inner peripheral flange iiltb of the member Hi5 to form a channel H59 in which is disposed a resilient sealing ring I iii. A spherical valve member III is seated on the con o surfaces I050 and IIlEid of the members Hi5, respectively. The surfaces Iiific are so relatively spaced that the ring I553 con-- tacts valve member I I I therebetween. The me nber III is received in a cavity Etta in the plug H33 and seated on the surfaces who iil id by a coil spring H2 interposed between the member III and the end of the cavity itta. A pluralit of passages H3 connect the channel IM with the cavity Itta.

The member I05 is provided with a plurality of radial conduits or passages Iced connecting the channel I09 with the cavity III-3a which is of slightly greater diameter than that of the spherical valve member I I I therein. The valve member III projects slightly into bore Idiic in member it, into which extends a pin Iit supported by a reduced diameter neck portion Iii-d. II l bears on the valve member III and extends through a conical bore I I5 in the nipple It I. The pin is supported by and extends from a head I It slidable snugly in a cavity III in the nipple Iili and extending into a socket I I8 on the end of the nipple IDI. The head I I6 has ports I Iila con-- necting the cavity II! and the socket IIB. A discharge port IIJIb in the nipple lei connects the cavity I I! with atmosphere.

Threaded into and extending from the socket IIS there is a cylindrical casing H9 containing a coil spring I20 confined between cups I2i and I22. The cup IZI bears on the head III; and the cup I22 is pressed by a bolt I 23 threaded into head IIQa of the casing IIll. A locknut IE is provided on the bolt I23 exteriorly of head lien for maintaining adjustment of bolt I213 after the bolt has been adjusted by means of a hex-head I 25 thereon.

There will now be described the use and operation of the two embodiments of the invention hereinbefore described. The form shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 is so designed that the valve member II unseats to permit discharge through port It when the pressure of the fluid in the container increases to a certain degree, and the form shown in Figs. 4 and 5 is so designed that the valve member III opens the discharge port IBIb when the pressure of the fluid in the container decreases to a certain degree.

It is obvious from Fig. 1 that the valve member I I is subjected to the pressure of the fluid in the container, through the bores 4 and I2, tending to move the member I I from its seat against which it is urged by member I5 under the adjusted pressure of the spring 20. Should this pressure of the fluid, to which the member II is subjected, increase to a degree superior to the adjusted pressure of the spring 20, the member II would be moved on its seat and open the port I6, the fluid under pressure escaping from the container through the bores 4, I2 and I4, and port I6 to atmosphere. The member II can be reseated by manipulation of the shaft 29 into the position shown in Fig. 1 to release the piston member I5,

sure therein, so that the ring I is relieved of excess pressure diiferential thereacross when the valve member II is unseated, which otherwise This reduction of pressure within conduits I3 in the Fig. 3 modification is even more marked due to the further constriction of bore I2a by the portion I2c. This strucspring I 20, the member III would be moved off its seat and thereby open port I IlIb, the fluid escaping from cavity I 83a through bores I We and H5, cavity II I and port IeIb to atmosphere.

' ct the sealing ring I II] in the channel I09 to its pressure, thereby effectively sealing the Joint between the vide a part of the passageway.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the constriction of the passage is of Venturi type construction.

below the pressure existent therein with the valve member seated.

4. A valve for controlling flow of fluid under pressure which comprises, in combination, a valve body assembly having a fluid passageway therethrough and an annular channel surrounding said passageway with its open side communicating with said passageway, a flexible seal member mounted in said channel and in contact with opposing walls thereof, a valve member movable to seat across said open side of the channel and bear against said seal member, a constriction in the passageway upstream of the channel, the body assembly having a passage communicating between said channel on the side of said seal member remote from the open side of the channel and said constriction upstream of the channel, the open side of said channel being disposed so that the surface of the seal against said valve member diverges outwardly of the longitudnal axis of said passageway whereby movement of the valve member in an unseating direction disengages it from said seal member without any substantial rubbing friction therebetween.

5. In a valve for controlling the flow of a fluid under pressure, the combination of a valve body forming a conduit for said fluid; an annular valve seat in said body defining a portion of said conduit and having therein an annular channel with opposing walls; a flexible sealing ring mounted in said channel and of a cross section not less than the distance between said opposing walls; and a valve member co-acting with said seat and, when seated, bearing on said sealing ring; said seat being provided with passages connecting said conduit on the upstream side of the seat with said seat channel on the side of said sealing ring remote from the open side of said channel so that when the valve member is seated, pressure upstream of said seat will urge said sealing ring toward the open side of said channel; a constriction in said conduit upstream of the seat; said passages being in communication with said conduit at said constriction so that the pressure on said remote side of the sealing ring is reduced when flow is first established through the conduit upon unseating of the valve member.

6. In a valve for controlling flow of fluid through a passageway in a conduit, a seat assembly including two cooperating parts formed with a seating surface surrounding said conduit passageway, one of said parts having a flow passage therethrough providing a part of said conduit passageway, said fiow passage in said one of said parts being located upstream of the seating surface and eing constricted relative to other portions of said conduit passageway to provide a reduced pressure at the region of the constriction relative to tnat of other portions of said conduit passageway when flow is established therethrough, said parts being formed to provide, upon assembly, an internal channel having a continuous opening, the width of the opening being less than the cross-sectional dimension of the channel inwardly adjacent the opening, said opening residing intermediate the inner and outer edges of the seating surface, pressurizing passages formed in one of the parts communicating between the channel and the flow passage through said one of said parts at the constriction, a resilient seal member within the channel intermediate the opening and the pressurizing passages and having a cross-sectional dimension at least as great as said cross-sectional dimension of said channel, and a valve member adapted to seat against the seating surface and be engaged by the seal member, the seal member being forced against said valve member when the latter is seated by the pressure difierential across the seal member to seal across the opening and also the joint between the seating surface and valve member.

"I. The assembly of claim 6 wherein the said iiow passage in said one of said parts and the constriction are of Venturi construction.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,330,415 Putnam June '7, 1921 1,721,114 Hampton July 16, 1929 1,971,713 Greve Aug. 28, 1934 1,983,797 Greve Dec. 11, 1934 2,114,934 Nordstrom Apr. 19, 1938 2,263,750 Willke Nov. 25, 1941 2,415,258 Parker Feb. 4, 194'? 2,481,482 Green Sept. 13, 1949 2,506,111 Saint May 2, 1950 2,538,133 Tratzik Jan. 16, 1951 2,542,390 Brown Feb. 20, 1951 2,616,653 Tarr Nov. 4, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 431,474 Germany of 1926 

